News List

May 30, 2014
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall.

Free Admission at City Pools Saturday for Splash Day
The Heights Family Aquatic Center, Glenville, Canyon Creek, Terrace and Cottonwood pools are open for the summer season on Splash Day, scheduled for Saturday, May 31. That day, admission will be free during regular operating hours.

The Parks and Recreation Department will offer a free swim lessons from 9 a.m. to noon at Glenville Pool, 500 S. Glenville Dr., on Splash Day. Register for a free lesson by calling 972-744-7893.

NTMWD Urges Increased Efforts to Conserve Water
The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) is asking everyone it serves in North Texas to turn off their automated sprinkler systems this summer and only operate their systems manually, when needed and on allowed watering days.

Executive Director Tom Kula said this week that recent rains have helped reservoirs somewhat, but that a unified effort among cities and individuals to increase conservation is needed to preserve limited water supplies and avoid more drastic measures restricting water use.

In a press release published this week Kula said: “Most homes, businesses and community areas are equipped with automatic sprinkler systems that account for more than 50 percent of water use this time of year. As part of the action taken by the NTMWD Board of Directors, this is a call for all customers served by the NTMWD to do what's needed—Turn Off your automatic sprinklers and only operate your systems manually, when needed, and within your cities’ guidelines.”

Manual operation, he said, gives people greater control over the single-largest user of water during the summer—automatic sprinklers—and ensures that irrigation is done in the most efficient way possible.

The City of Richardson has implemented Modified Stage 3 Water Restrictions, which limit lawn irrigation to twice a month, throughout the summer. The NTMWD, which supplies water to Richardson, says its communities need to achieve greater than 10 percent savings through the summer months because of the ongoing drought. Lawns should only be watered when needed—when a soil moisture meter registers as “Dry.” Recent rains have helped relieve the need to irrigate landscaping, but this is still one of the driest years on record, and North Texas remains in an extended, severe drought.

Watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and during times of precipitation. The City has inspectors monitoring for compliance 18 hours a day, seven days a week. Learn more about Modified Stage 3 Water Restrictions online at cor.net/waterconservation. Report a violation through the MyRichardson mobile app or by calling 972-744-4111.

CityLine Construction to Cause Plano Road Lane Closures
Aesthetic improvements to street intersections as part of CityLine construction will require crews to close lanes in each direction of Plano Road between Renner Road and President George Bush Turnpike. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes.
Weather permitting, the following lane closure schedule on Plano Road is planned:

7 p.m. Friday, May 30, to 6 a.m. Monday, June 2: Up to two southbound lanes closed.

Monday, June 2, to Thursday, June 5: Two lanes in each direction closed 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (During peak hours, the closure will be reduced to one lane in each direction.)

7 p.m. Friday, June 6 to 6 a.m. Monday, June 9: Two lanes in each direction closed.

The construction is to add decorative paving at intersections of Plano Road with newly built streets within CityLine. The first phase of the mixed-use development will begin opening later this year, with completion scheduled for 2015. It includes four office buildings that will house State Farm Insurance, as well as a corporate campus to be built for Raytheon. CityLine will include a mix of office space; hotels; residential; grocery, restaurant, entertainment and retail space; and parks and trails.

City Seeking Input on Public Art Master Plan at Workshop

The City of Richardson is seeking community input to help develop a Public Art Master Plan at the “Imagine Art Here!” workshop from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Huffhines Recreation Center. Participants will learn about public art in Richardson and other communities and help establish a vision for public art in the city. Dinner will be provided.

Choir, Dance Groups to Perform at Eisemann Center
The Eisemann Center will host several events this week, beginning with the Contemporary Chorale performing “Magic To Do” at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The family-friendly show will include special guest Brian Hull performing “Let it Go” from Disney’s “Frozen.” Tickets cost $18 to $25. Learn more at contemporarychorale.org.

Neil Sperry to Give Free Presentation at Civic Center
The Richardson Public Library will host Texas gardening guru Neil Sperry at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Grand Hall of the Richardson Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho Rd. Sperry will speak about common gardening dilemmas and his new book, “Neil Sperry’s Lone Star Gardening.” He will also take questions from the audience and sign books.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call Janet Vance at 972-744-4376.

NETWORK holds free events each month featuring a topic of interest to seniors. Upcoming seminars include “Master Gardener – Planting Native” on June 17 and “End of Life Planning” on July 1.

Animal Shelter to Host Pet Adoptathon
The Richardson Animal Shelter will hold an adoptathon from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Shelter, 1330 Columbia Dr. The event will offer a $15 “Home Again” microchip option for each pet adopted from the Shelter, and adoption fees will also be discounted.

Admission is free. There will be vendors, pet treats, raffles, prizes, refreshments, rescue groups and more. Call 972-744-4480 or visit cor.net/animalservices for more information.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week

Meet Lucky! She is a wonderful German Shepherd mix. She was brought to the Shelter on May 16 and is already spayed and fully vaccinated. She is only 5 years old and is in good health! Great around kids and is housebroken.